Dying with Easter Egg Dye, It's on Sale

[Gandolf]

Hi All,

For all of you who use Rick's Easter Egg dye dying method, I just was in Wal-Mart, and saw Easter Egg dye sets on sale.

I am now starting to dye some white fox, and am currently using Kool-Aid, but am also planning to use the Easter Egg dye, and Rit, depending on the desired colors.

At any rate, now is a good time to stock up on Easter Egg dye kits before they are gone.

Regards,

Gandolf

[Fatman]

You have a link to this method???

[Rick Z]

I get large drink cups from the "Quick Trip" type stores.
Six tablets of the samem colr in each cup.
Pheasant anbd turkey feathers take a week.
Use the cup lid with a few books on top of it.
Wear gloves to take the feathers out and dry onnewspapaer.
Can do two sets of feathers/ dye set.

Rick

[Denny]

Here is one I will add to how Rick does it that will help.
First pre soak in hot (as hot as your hands can stand) water
with white vinegar & water, as a mordant. This will cut any oils, etc that
is on the feather. Rinse with warn water and then do the rit thing.
Never use boiling water as this is how the stem gets damaged in dying.

Denny

[Allan]

Here's a link to the Kool Aid web site and info on dyeing. This might add a little to what Rick Z posted above.

http://www.thepiper.com/fiberart/koolaid/

Allan

[Gandolf]

Denny, thanks for the comment. I normally use soap and water prior to dying, but your advise adds to the details of good practice. I am thinking that I have not used hot enough water for long enough. My results have generally been good, but on occasion have had light areas, and lack of adequate degreasing may have contributed to that problem.

Rick, thanks for the input on your method. I have tried to dye pheasant tail feathers with your method, and not gotten a very intense color. Now I know that I was just not patient enough and needed to give the dye more time.

Thanks to all for the input. I am hoping more good comments on dying will show up on this post.

Friends have advised that I am a bit on the frugal side, although that is not the exact wording that they generally use, so thus the reason for dying the fox. It is much cheaper to buy scraps of white fox and dye your own than it is to buy the fox already dyed.

Thanks and regards,

Gandolf